Great Giveaway!

Hi All!  Hope you all are having a great weekend. I am super busy but feeling pretty powerful, so it is all workin' out fine. So far, I've found my voice where my child's education is concerned.  I've learned to appreciate the people in my life, while they are still here. They are AMAZING!! And I've also learned that I CAN DO IT...whatever I decide it is. (IT changes often and that's okay!).  I've also learned that the husband and I work pretty well together on home projects. I think that's quite a lot for it being only Saturday afternoon!

Now, I'll be prepping a California roast with balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, for my parents visit tomorrow and finishing up some small works of art, getting them ready to send out into the world.

LIFE IS A LOT OF PREP WORK!

While you are taking a few minutes to contemplate all the goodness in your life...

Check out this amazing giveaway that I'm a part of, if you would love some humongous artsy goodness!   It's sponsored by Harmony of Feed Your Soul Art, and I'm giving away an original piece of art!

http://feedyoursoulart.blogspot.com/2011/09/enormous-group-giveaway-goodness.html

I'll let you know how the roast turns out. Until then...

Go out and Be Kind.

Roadtrip Therapy

Every once in a while you need to just take off, get outta town, hit the road and fill the well. Removing yourself from your routine, from your usual setting can do wonders for inspiring creativity and helping you to realize your gifts and especially realize every little thing you have to be thankful for.

The Big Picture(s)

A few days ago I posted some crops of some works in progress. Well, here is what I've been working on. I think it's pretty interesting how I go through phases of wanting to work big and wanting to work small. I believe my small creative urges are being satisfied with art journal pages at the moment, so when I get some studio time, I just want to work big. The LIFE piece is 24" x 36". This is based on a little song that my husband knows from when he was a kid. I had never heard it before I met him, but I just love it.
Happiness runs in a circular motion. Life is a little boat upon the sea.

 

This painting, grow!, is actually a painting that I already had hanging, but it was always telling me that it wasn't really finished. So I decided to re-work it, and this is what came out. It's another big one, 30" x 40". I have alway loved this quote from the Talmud. My favorite reaction was when my daughter saw it, and she gasped, "Are those rolly-pollies?"  Yes, those are rolly-pollies!  I'll have print options available in my ETSY shop soon.

So, I've just been doing whatever I want in the studio. I know that sounds kinda strange, because you would think "Don't all artists do that?" 

Mostly, yes.

But sometimes we lose our way, and we start to make stuff because we think it's right, and we think what we WANT to make is wrong. As we find our way back to ourselves, it's important to spend some time trying out whatever you are inspired to create. 

I like making HAPPY art. That is the label that I like for my work. I don't need to fit into the traditional categories of fine or folk, traditional or modern, abstract or pop. It all just feels so limited. So much energy can be wasted on trying to fit in.  I like that my art makes people smile. It makes me feel good.  And I believe it generally lifts the spirits of those who see it. Plus, I'm especially proud that kids love my work. I am choosing to be part of the Happy Movement!

I'd love to hear your comments.

I am off for a little roadtrip with some wonderful, creative women. It is time to fill the well and soak in some moonbeams by the water and stir up some creative juiciness. I'll keep you posted. Until then...

Go out and be kind.

Breathe through the tight spots...

I, like many others, enjoy doing yoga. I am by no means a yogi or yogini (whatever the difference may be) but I do feel energized and rejuvenated and see the clear benefits of the stretching, the breathing, the connecting. There is something that one does when doing yoga and I like to call it breathing through the tight spots. It is when you use your breath to let go of that bit of tension, to get to just that little bit extra stretch. Pushing yourself just that littlest tiniest bit can make all the difference between remaining stuck and feeling exhilarated. Deep, deep breath, and let it go.

I bring this up because over the weekend, and actually throughout last week, as I am getting my blog active and my creativity stoked and my art career revved up, I find myself feeling a bit uncomfortable. I feel behind. I feel like I have to catch up.

 

This was evidenced last week when I spent some time trying to create a button for this blog. Even though I spend a great deal of my time on the computer, I am not yet computer savvy as far as creating gadgets goes. I can spend hours working on things that take others 10 minutes to whip up. It can be a little disheartening. It can open the door to self doubt.

But, that's where the breathing comes in. Breathe through the tight spots. Here are some helpful hints for pushing yourself past the places where you might feel stuck.

1.  Breathe in and out.  On your breath out, say to yourself...I can do this. (Because you can.)

2. Just do your best. And then do it again. Just keep going. Perseverance is the key. Don't give up. You will figure it just like everyone before you. Then, you will have the golden opportunity to pass on what you've learned!

3. Be gentle with yourself. Learning takes time. Put the time in, take some breaks and get back at it. It takes over 10,000 hours of doing something to become an expert (from the book, The Outliers). 10,000 hours!! So, don't expect yourself to become fully accomplished in an that extra hour before you go to bed.

4.  Go to your studio and make something! Anything. A card for a friend, an art journal page, work on a sewing project, or a painting that you have had swirling around in your head. Get your creativity out! This will be the salve to help you get through being stuck, through the feelings of frustration. Doing. Do something every day and you will be further along. You will have that.  And that will fuel you on for the next day. It's that simple.

These pics are crops of 2 out of 3 large paintings that I have been working on, that have helped me get through some tight spots over the weekend. Consistently spending time in the studio is like magic. I'll reveal more in the next day or so. Until then....

Go In and Be Kind.